Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-12-02
Circuit Court.

Circuit Court.
Friday.-Coart called at usual hour. Th'
first case was that of State VS.. Wm. Farrall,
small colored boy indicted for burning the barr
OF Thos. P. Gray. Tried by Court and founC
not guilty but ordered to be held by the sheriff
under further orders from the Court, as it is in
tended to place him in rsformstory institu
ton.
| In the ease of State vs. Thos. Nsale colored
| held for larceny, the prisoner w?s discharged
no one appearing against him. The grand jury
was discharged and court adjourned.
| Sdturddy.-Court called about IL o'clock
Judges Stone and Crane The bench. The
case of State vs. Budd Tyler, colored, indicted
| for entering tie house of Mrs. Pickerel, neal
Waldorf, was taken up. Tried by Court, found
guilty and sentenced 10 the courty Jail for two
and one half months. Court adjourned anti
Monday.
! Monddy-W hen Cosrt called this mornin 9
the room was filed with persons ho were eaee
to hear the trial Of the case Of State vs.. Thomas
c. Wingate, who had Teen indicted for the
murder of John Coombs, colored tenant on
his farm in Piccawax.n, on the morning OF
November l7th last by shooting him in tie
neck with pistol and whose case hsl teen set
fer trial today. Judges Stone and Crane ~sre
on the bench Some little delay wss occasioned
By the i.ilure of the witnesses for State and de-
fense TO answer to their names when first ca led,
but about ii o'clock the crier reported all pre-
sent, and the work Of empanneling jury wss
at once begun. Senator Edelen and John H.
Mitchell conducted the defense, and Mr.. Wilmer
the prosecution. The regular panel was ex-
haasted with but seven jurors chosen. Fifteen
tai.men were thea summoned from whom The
remaining Eve were selected. The following
is the jury who sat in the case A W Nesle,
John H Freeman, Thona. | Rober, Geo. NJ.
Carpenter, Jos. B. Price, Henry Delezier, A W.
S Hicks, B. l.. Burch, John Ii. Besn. The
opening statements were made 10 the jury By
Wilmer for State and Elelen for defense after
which the testimony ia the case was begun
The examination Of the witnesses re vetled about
the same state of facts, that have teeu hereto
fore published that both mes were al tn corn
house of Mr.. Wingate dividing cora; that
while so engaged a quarrel ensued between
them over previous division, and that immed-
lately thereafter Wiugste drew his pistol, shot
Coombs as stated, who died aimos, Instantly
from the effect Of the wound. Thers was also
present at tho time two o son. OF the deceased and
Mr.. J. T.. F. Wingate, a cousin Of the prisoner,
the latter, hswever, did not witness the sc, of
shooting as be was engaged ia some other work
at that time. The theory of The defense vas
that the shaotiag was done in self defense, but
to support il they had nothing but the unsup-
ported statement Of the prisoner, who testified
Coombs h.d put his hand behind him a. if 10
draw pistol This was not eorroboratei By
the testimony Of the other Witnesses present,
and wa. negatived by the fact that no weapon
was found on the deceased after death. The
closed about 6 O'Clock, when Court
adjourned 10 the following day.
Tuesiay.-Court caIl,d at 10 O'Clock, Jadge
Crane on the bench. The entire day WAS con-
,umed in the argument OF coansel before the
ary. The arguments on both sides were strong
and logical, covering fully every poin, testified
TO in the trial, those of Messrs Edeea and
Mitchell being especially foreible and occupy
10. hree hours each. Mr. r.Wilner closed
in an aoie summing up and the case WAS given
to the jury ahou, 6! o'clock. After being osi
.hnnt one. hour ther returned 10 Court and
|. rendered the verdict OF guilty of murder in Il
is second degree. The Court, Judge Crane,
i. Wednesday morning sentenced the prisoner
J.. the peniten,isry for a term Of .evesieen yea
:, and six months
4 Wednesday, court called this mornir
:, Ans Scott. colored indicted for attempted arse
!. was brought 10, bat the prosecuting wi,ne
being too sick TO appear, she was held to b.
). in the som of S25 for her appearance at ii
May term.
The attachment case Of Thos E Young, r
. eever, against the property Of Smith Kngh
was argued by W. Wheeler, OF Washington
and Posey and Mudd, and the at,achnrr
qua.hed. Court them adjourned.